What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
C15-19 Alkane
SolventCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Hydroxystearic Acid
Cleansing
Rosa Canina Seed Oil
Emollient
Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Caprylate
Emollient3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Bergamia Peel Oil Expressed
Perfuming
Gellan Gum
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Sodium Phytate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLimonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Niacinamide, C15-19 Alkane, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Hydroxystearic Acid, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Lactic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Citrus Bergamia Peel Oil Expressed, Gellan Gum, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Sodium Phytate, Xanthan Gum, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
C15-19 Alkane
SolventAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Oleyl Erucate
Emollient
Nylon-12
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citrus Limon Seed Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Seed Oil
Perfuming
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Diglucosyl Gallic Acid
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTin Oxide
Abrasive
Water, Glycerin, C15-19 Alkane, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Dimethicone, Coco-Caprylate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Oleyl Erucate, Nylon-12, Cetyl Alcohol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Phenoxyethanol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylyl Glycol, Citrus Limon Seed Oil, Citrus Paradisi Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sclerotium Gum, Parfum, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Panthenol, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, CI 77891, Tin Oxide
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
C15-19 alkane is a mixture of alkanes. Alkanes are hydrocarbons with carbon atoms held together by single bonds.
It is a synthetically created solvent and emollient often used to replace silicones or mineral oil. As an emollient, C15-19 Alkane helps soften and soothe the skin. Emollients create a barrier to trap moisture inside.
You'll often see this ingredient used with mineral UV filters such as titanium dioxidide and zinc oxide. It helps these UV filter ingredients be more spreadable.
This ingredient is biodegradable. According to a manufacturer, it is also known as Hydrogenated Polyfarnesene.
Learn more about C15-19 AlkaneCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
